By: Fern Sidman

As tensions between Israel and Iran continue to send shockwaves across the Middle East and global diplomatic circles, a new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday reveals a striking ambivalence—if not outright opposition—among the American electorate regarding Washington’s involvement in the conflict. According to data analyzed by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), a majority of U.S. registered voters disapprove of the United States joining Israel in its recent airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, marking a significant inflection point in American attitudes toward the Jewish state and broader military engagement in the region.

The findings come at a moment of acute geopolitical strain and rising antisemitism in the aftermath of the Hamas-led terror attacks of October 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 Israelis. Yet, despite widespread condemnation of Hamas and support for Israel in the immediate wake of that assault, the Quinnipiac poll suggests that American public sentiment is increasingly reluctant to support escalatory military measures, particularly those involving direct U.S. action.

According to the poll, 51% of voters oppose the U.S. joining Israel in bombing Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, compared to 42% who support such action. The divide falls starkly along partisan lines.

Republican voters continue to show unwavering support for Israel’s use of force and for Washington’s military partnership with Jerusalem. Among Republicans, a commanding 81% favor U.S. involvement in the strikes, with only 15% opposed. The JNS report highlighted this figure as evidence of the enduring alliance between the GOP and Israel, particularly under the influence of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy legacy, which emphasizes “maximum pressure” on Tehran.

Tim Malloy, a senior polling analyst at Quinnipiac, noted, “No ambivalence from Republicans on the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites. By a large margin, GOP voters give full-throated support to the mission.”

Democrats, by contrast, disapproved of U.S. involvement by a margin of 75% to 15%, reflecting an ongoing ideological shift within the party’s base, where skepticism toward military intervention and criticism of Israel’s policies—especially in Gaza—have become increasingly mainstream.

Independents also leaned against intervention, with 60% disapproving and only 35% in support, suggesting broader public apprehension that transcends party lines.

Perhaps more striking than attitudes toward military engagement is the broader erosion of support for Israel itself. According to the Quinnipiac findings, 42% of respondents believe the United States is “too supportive” of Israel—an all-time high since the university began asking the question in 2017. Only 5% said the U.S. is not supportive enough, while 45% said the level of support is “about right.”

As JNS reported, these numbers coincide with a visible and troubling uptick in antisemitic incidents across the United States since October 7, raising questions about the interplay between foreign policy discourse and domestic social dynamics. Jewish community leaders, including those affiliated with the Jewish News Syndicate, have repeatedly warned that anti-Israel rhetoric often morphs into outright antisemitism, particularly in academic, activist, and digital spaces.

The waning support may also reflect war fatigue, generational shifts, and the influence of progressive narratives that recast the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in starkly critical terms.

Interestingly, despite widespread resistance to U.S. participation, the poll found that American voters narrowly support Israel’s decision to carry out military strikes against Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. Overall, 50% supported the Israeli strikes, while 40% opposed them.

Here too, the partisan divide was sharp: 80% of Republicans supported the Israeli strikes, compared to 15% against. Among Democrats, 60% opposed the strikes while just 25% expressed support. Independents were nearly evenly split, with 46% approving and 45% opposed.

The JNS report emphasized that this modest majority reflects enduring bipartisan sympathy for Israel’s security concerns—especially amid fears that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential threat not only to Israel but to regional and global stability.

Perhaps the most sobering takeaway from the poll is the widespread anxiety that U.S. involvement could trigger a broader, destabilizing conflict with Iran. A full 78% of voters said they are concerned about the possibility of being drawn into a war with Iran, a figure that transcends political affiliations and signals a national reluctance to engage in another Middle East conflict.

Only 22% of respondents expressed confidence that military strikes would not escalate into wider war. Furthermore, 50% of those surveyed believe that U.S. involvement makes the country less safe, while just 42% believe it enhances American security.

As the JNS report noted, this anxiety calls attention to the complex calculus facing U.S. policymakers, who must balance alliance commitments with domestic opposition to foreign entanglements.

The Quinnipiac poll captures a critical moment in the evolution of American foreign policy sentiment. While support for Israel’s security remains generally intact, the appetite for direct U.S. military involvement—particularly in conflicts that carry a high risk of escalation—has clearly diminished.

As JNS reported, these findings are a wake-up call for Israeli and American leaders alike. For Israel, the challenge will be maintaining its strategic deterrence while preserving its indispensable partnership with Washington. For the United States, the challenge lies in navigating a volatile Middle East landscape amid deep domestic divisions and an increasingly skeptical electorate.

In the words of Quinnipiac’s Tim Malloy, “American voters, most of whom are not supportive of the country joining in the Israel-Iran conflict, are extremely troubled by the possibility that involvement could metastasize and draw the United States into a direct war with Iran.”

In the months ahead, these sentiments will likely shape not just foreign policy debates, but the very contours of America’s relationship with its closest ally in the Middle East.